Fastener driving apparatus

ABSTRACT

A FASTENER DRIVING APPARATUS IS DISCLOSED WHICH HAS A FASTENER SENSING MEMBER MOUNTED IN THE DRIVE TRACK TO BE MOVED INTO AN OPERATIVE POSITION BY ENGAGEMENT OF A FASTENER THEREWITH IN RESPONSE TO THE MOVEMENT OF A FASTENER BY A FASTENER FEEDING MECHANISM LATERALLY INTO THE DRIVE TRACK INTO A PROPER POSITION TO BE DRIVEN LONGITUDINALLY OUTWARDLY THEREFROM BY A PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED FASTENER DRIVING ELEMENT. THE APPARATUS INCLUDES A PNEUMATIC CIRCUIT, ACTUATION OF WHICH IS MANUALLY CONTROLLED BY DIGITAL MOVEMENT OF A TRIGGER THE OPERATION OF THE CIRCUIT BEING DEPENDENT UPON THE MOVEMENT OF THE FASTENER SENSING MEMBER INTO ITS OPERATIVE POSITION SO THAT IF NO FASTENER IS PRESENTED ON PROPER POSITION TO BE DRIVEN, THE FASTENER DRIVING ELEMENT WILL NOT BE PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED. THE PNEUMATIC CIRCUIT IS OPERABLE TO RETURN THE FASTENER DRIVING ELEMENT AFTER THE FASTER HAS BEEN DRIVEN THEREBY WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF DIGITALLY RELEASING THE TRIGGER AND AGAIN OPERATING THE FASTENER DRIVING ELEMENT TO DRIVE ANOTHER FASTENER WHEN THE TRIGGER IS NOT RELEASED THEREBY RENDERING THE APPARATUS CAPABLE OF AUTOMATICALLY DRIVING A SEQUENCE OF FASTENERS AS THE DEVICE IS MOVED ALONG AND AGAINST A WORKPIECE. THE PREFERRED FASTENER FEEDING MECHANISM DISCLOSED IS OPERABLE TO HANDLE A CONICAL CYLINDRICAL FASTENER PACKAGE INCLUDING A MULTIPLICITY OF COMMON NAILS INTERCONNECTED IN SERIES IN PARALLEL RELATION BY A PAIR OF PARALLEL FLEXIBLE FRANGIBLE WIRES WELDED TO THE SHANKS OF THE NAILS AND INCLUDES A FRUSTO-CONICAL   SUPPORT MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING THE CONICAL CYLINDRICAL PACKAGE OF NAILS BY ENGAGEMENT OF THE POINTS THEREWITH AND A TURRET MEMBER MOUNTED FOR INCREMENTAL STEP-BYSTEP ROTARY MOVEMENT ABOUT A CENTRAL AXIS PARALLEL WITH THE AXIS OF THE DRIVE TRACK OPERABLE TO FEED SUCCESSIVE NAILS INTO THE DRIVE TRACK AND TO EFFECT SEVERANCE OF THE WIRES DURING THE DRIVING MOVEMENT OF THE NAIL.

G. A. MAYNARD Re. 27,101 V FASTBNER DRIVING APPARATUS Or1giha1-Fi ied-March 17. 1964 Mal-:11 30, 1971 s Sheets-Shed 1 A, I f l/ff/ 1 30, 1971 G A, MAYNARD I Re. 27,101

FASTENER nnzvzue APPARATUS Original Filed March 17, 1964 S Sheets-Sheet 2 March 30, 1971 G A MAYNARD I I Re. 27,101 Y ms'rsman DRIVING APPARATUS Original Filed March 17. 1964 *3 Sheets-Sheet s \n n 2% RQ\\\ A Q Re. 27,101 Ice Re-issued Mar. 30, 1971 Int. Cl. B27f 7/ 06' US. Cl. 2278 37 Claims Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fastener driving apparatus is disclosed which has a fastener sensing member mounted in the drive track to be moved into an operative position by engagement of a fastener therewith in response to the movement of a fastener by a fastener feeding mechanism laterally into the drive track into a proper position to be driven longitudinally outwardly therefrom by a pneumatically operated fastener driving element. The apparatus includes a pneu' matic circuit, actuation of which is manually controlled by digital movement of a trigger, the operation of the circuit being dependent upon the movement of the fastener sensing member into its operative position so that if no fastener is presented on proper position to be driven; the fastener driving element will not be pneumatically operated. The pneumatic circuit is operable to return the fastener driving element after the fastener has been driven thereby without the necessity of digitally releasing the trigger and again operating the fastener driving element to drive another fastener when the trigger is not released thereby rendering the apparatus capable of automatically driving a sequence of fasteners as the device is moved along and against a workpiece. The preferred fastener,

feeding mechanism disclosed is operable to handle a conical cylindrical fastener package including a multiplicity of common nails interconnected in series in parallel relation by a pair of parallel flexible frangible wires welded to the shanks of the nails and includes a frusto-conical support member for supporting the conical cylindrical package of nails by engagement of the points therewith and a turret member mounted for incremental step-bystep rotary movement about a central axis parallel with the axis of the drive track operable to feed successive nails into the drive track and to effect severance of the wires during the driving movement of the nail.

This invention relates to fastener driving apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for driving fasteners fed from a magazine into a workpiece.

A wide variety of magazine-fed fastener driving apparatus are well known, as for example, the desk type of stapler. The advantages of speed and convenience of operation of such apparatus have been extended to heavier duty apparatus for driving larger fasteners. It would be advantageous to employ similar techniques in the driving of still larger fasteners such as eightpenny nails which are widely used in construction projects for such purposes as framing and the laying of subflooring. In the driving of such fasteners, it is desirable that they be .driven into place in a single blow, and for this purpose a large driving force should be available for reliably driving the fastener the desired depth into wood or other substances of varying density. Where pneumatic actuation is employed, the apparatus preferably is designed so that a large volume of air may be transferred rapidly without excessive pressure drop to provide the energy necessary to deliver the blow of desired magnitude to the fastener driver while not exhausting a large amount of air to the atmosphere during each stroke. It is also desirable that driving apparatus accommodate fasteners of conventional configuration so that special approval in compliance with building codes is not required for their use. In the case of nails, the driving apparatus should accept the conventional circular head type nails and not be limited to a non-standard head configuration, for example, such as the type employed when the nails are connected together in a stick with their shanks in contact.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide novel and improved driving apparatus capable of handling nails of conventional configuration.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pneumatically operated fastener driving apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved pneumatically operated fastener driving device of controllable cycling rate.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fastener driving device having new and improved control means for preventing operation of the apparatus unless the fastener discharging portion thereof is disposed immediately adjacent the workpiece. This object is of particular importance in connection with heavy-duty driving tools of the type suitable for driving eightpenny nails, for example, due to the hazards involved, as such a tool is capable of firing a nail at speeds suflicient to cause physical injury.

:Further, where it is necessary to develop driving forces of large magnitude, there is substantial wear on the operating parts, and another object of the invention is to provide a tool which prevents unnecessary cycling of the driver, as, for example, when the supply of fasteners in the magazine is exhausted.

Still another object of the invention is to prevent driving operation should a fastener not be positioned properly in alignment with the driver, as, for example, contact of the driver with such a fastener or other structure not in proper alignment could result in major damage of the tool and also possible injury to the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved fastener feeding mechanism for use in a fastener driving device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fastener driving apparatus providing greater versatility in operating characteristics.

In accordance with these and other objects of the invention, an embodiment of the invention in the form of a mailer comprises a housing having a head portion and a rearwardly extending handle portion, together with a magazine portion secured to the base of the housing. The housing includes a fluid pressure reservoir chamber and a piston cylinder having a driver piston slidably mounted therein with a fastener driving element secured thereto. A drive track, aligned with the driving element, receives nails in sequence from a magazine for driving by the driving element.

The magazine may take several forms, but in this embodiment, it includes a container having a floor member, the positioning of which may be adjusted to accommodate different lengths of nails. A coil of conventional, roundheaded nails, secured together, for example, in accordance with the teaching of Peterson Patent No. 3,083,369, may be positioned in the magazine, and the nails are fed therefrom by an advancing mechanism positioned adjacent the drive track.

This nail advancing mechanism is operated in response to contact with the workpiece of a shoe carried by the magazine and located below the drive track. Such contact operates the advancing mechanism to position a nail n alignment with the drive track. An interlock valve is ocated adjacent the drive track, and when a nail is prop- :rly positioned relative to the drive track by the advancn-g mechanism, that nail operates the interlock valve For supplying pressure fluid from the reservoir to a manlally actuable control valve for operation of the driver tpparatus. Thus, the fastener to be driven is, itself, an lctive member in the driver control system.

The driver control includes a main valve which, in a reavy-duty nailer embodiment, is controlled by a pilot ralve. The main valve controls flow of fluid from the memoir to the main cylinder for acting on the driver )iS'tOll and opens a larger passage so that pressure drop )etween reservoir and cylinder is minimized. The pilot ralve has two valving positions, a first one in which a )ressure surface of the main valve is connected to the ttmosphere through a passage of adjustable dimension 1nd a second one in which that pressure surface of the nain valve is connected to the reservoir. Application of :ontrol fluid to the pilot valve is controlled by the conjoint aperation of the interlock valve and a manually actuable :ontrol valve.

The control valve is connected in the system in series vith the interlock valve and, when both are actuated, :ouples pressure fluid from the reservoir to the pilot valve. [he pilot valve then operates and connects the reservoir the main valve so that the fluid pressure drives the main walve in a direction to open the cylinder to fluid pressure 'rom the reservoir which forces the driving element downvardly in a nail driving operation. As indicated above, his operation cannot be initiated unless a nail is in proper )osition in the drive track. Also, the advancing mechlnism allows movement of the fastener out of the drive rack suflicient to release the interlock valve when contact )f the shoe with the workpiece is broken.

The nail advancing mechanism in addition to positionng the nail for driving serves to guide the nail substanially the length of the driving stroke, and that single itroke drives the nail into the workpiece. The length of he drive stroke is proportioned to the length of the drive rack so that the drive operation also resets the feed nechanism.

As soon as the nail is moved out of contact with the nterlock valve, that valve is released and it operates to lump the pilot fluid and initiate the return cycle of the lriving element to its starting position. The duration of :he return cycle is controlled by thesetting of a choke relative to the exhaust passage and enables the operator :0 vary the cycling speed of the tool to suit the nature of is work.

This fastener driving apparatus is a powerful and verratile tool. Among its other features is the fact that it :nables the operator to employ several different techiiques in the driving of fasteners, for example, straight iail driving or toe nailing. Also, through use of the ex- Jaust passage control, the driver recycle rate may be adjusted so that nails may be accurately located and lriven with precision under manual control. Another mode )f operation results where the manually actuable control valve is held open and the tool is operated by contacting he shoe with the workpiece at the desired point, such :ontact initiating the driving of a fastener. Still another node of operation may be termed drag firing, in which he manual control valve is held open and the driver appa- ,"atus is held firmly in contact with the workpiece while aeing moved along the workpiece. A series of nails are hen driven at a rate determined by the setting of the exiaust passage choke. The driving and recycling opera- .ions are automatically terminated if a nail should jam or )ecome misaligned or when the supply of nails becomes :xhausted. Further, a nail cannot be driven unless the lhOfi member is in firm contact with the workpiece, a iafety feature of some importance as a pneumatically ictuated driver of this power can discharge a nail with iuflicient force to cause physical injury.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be seen as the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment and modifications thereof progresses, in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elcvational view, partly in section, of a nail driving apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are bottom and top views, respectively, of the driving apparatus shown in FIG. 1 drawn to a smaller scale than FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4-7 are a series of sectional views taken along the lines 4-4, 5-5, 66, and 77, respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIG. '8 is a sectional view of the control valve assembly taken along the line 88 of FIG. 1 to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the pilot valve assembly similar to FIG. 1, showing that valve in a second position;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the interlock valve and feed mechanism taken along the line 1010 of FIG. 1 to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a clutch pin and bias spring taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10 showing the components of the interlock valve and feed mechanism in a second position; and

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of a modified safety interlock valve for use in a fastener driving apparatus of the type which drives staples.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a pneumatically operated nailer capable of handling eightpenny nails and driving such nails in a single stroke. The nailer includes a housing 10 having a handle portion 12 and a head portion 14. A driving cylinder 16 is disposed in the lower end of head portion 14. Compressed air is supplied through orifice 18 into a first reservoir chamber 20 in handle 12 which is in direct communication with a second reservoir chamber 22 in the upper part of head portion 14.

The apparatus directly acting on a nail 24 includes a piston 26 mounted in the cylinder 16 to which is attached a driver rod 28.

Bolted to the base of the housing as an assembly is a nail magazine 30 and a nosepiece portion 32 in which is formed a drive track. Secured at the base of the nosepiece-magazine assembly is a workpiece contact element in-the form of shoe 34 which is mounted for rotation about pivot 35-. This contact element defines an aperture 36 through which the nail is driven and includes surface 37 against which is biased shaft 38 which cooperates with a nail feeding turret element 40, as diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 1.

The feed mechanism, when actuated, moves a nail into alignment with the driver rod 28, and when the nail is properly positioned, it actuates an interlock valve element mounted in valve housing 42 (FIG. 2) which opens a passageway between the first reservoir 20 and the manually actuable control valve assembly 44. Concurrent actuation of that assembly with the interlock valve allows pilot air to flow to the pilot valve assembly 46 which includes a piston element 48 and a valve element 50 which is normally positioned in sealing relation on conical seat 52 in sleeve 54. That sleeve has a plurality of orifices 55 in its side wall and an exhaust orifice 56 at its upper end. This pilot valve controls'the flow of air to and from the uppermost part of the head portion through orifices 55. The valve sleeve is secured in the housing 10 by means of cap 58 which is bolted to the housing in conventional manner. The housing has two exhaust ports 59 and the cap includes cooperating exhaust deflector portions 61. A rotatably adjustable cover 60 is mounted on the cap in overlying relation to the exhaust deflector portions and controls the flow of exhaust air to those portions.

In the upper part of reservoir chamber 22 is disposed an inwardly extending flange 62, and positioned above that flange is piston member 64 which carries a depending hollow valve stem-65 having valve member 66 formed at its lower end. This valve member 66 mates in sealing relation with a downwardly facing valve seat 68 which is formed on an inwardly extending annular flange 70 which separates the driver cylinder 16 from the second'reservoir chamber 22 in the head p ortion 14. Piston 64 and'valve member 66 are limited in their downward movement by flange 62.

Coaxially disposed within valve stem 65 is a-piston rod 72 which has a return piston 74 formed at its upper end and which is threadedly secured to the driver rod .28 at its lower end. Piston rod 72 is also hollow, and when the drive piston 26 is in its return position, its upper end engages stop 75 formed integrally with cap 58.

Piston 26 is of laminated construction, having an annular magnesium piston body 76 spaced from drive rod 28 by steel spacer 77. A series of spring steel washers 78 are disposed on either side of piston body 76 and spacer 77 and are secured in stacked relation against flange 79 by nut 80.

Additional details of the structure will be seen with the reference to the sectional views 4-13. In FIG. 4 there is shown a section through the cover 60 which is rotatably mounted on the cap 58. This cover 60 is secured '-by suitable means such as bolt 81 and includes integrally formed handle portion 82, stop tab 84 and choke tab 86. Both tabs extend inwardly from its periphery. The housing cap 58 has integrally formed therein two deflector channels .88, two stop surfaces 90 which cooperate with tab 84, and an exhaust orifice 56, the effective area of which is determined by its cooperation with tab 86'. In the position of the cover 60, as shown, orifice 56 is almost completely closed by tab 86 and the tool is in a slow cycle mode of operation. Should the cover 60 be rotated in a clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 4, a larger area of the orifice 56 will be exposed and the cycle speed of operation will -be increased. Bolt 81 locks the cover 60 and choke tab 86 in its adjusted position relative to exhaust orifice 56 [92]. Bolts 94-, used for securing the cover on the housing, are indicated diagrammatically.

The section shown in FIG. 5, taken along the line 5 of FIG. 1, indicates the oval shape of the reservoir chamber 22 (providing a large volume of air for driving pur poses) and the offset location of the pilot valve assembly 46. That assembly includes piston 48 which is disposed in cylinder portion 100 and which is connected to valve element 50 by pilot valve stem 102. At the base of cylinder 100 is an orifice of the pilot air passageway 104. p

The configuration of the port in flange 70 which divides the upper reservoir chamber from the lower cylinder chamber is indicated in FIG. 5.

The section shown in FIG. 6 is through the cylinder chamber 16, a portion of the housing for the control valve 44, and the handle portion 12. Indicated in that figure is the location of pilot air passageway 104, -a first passageway 110 that extends between the reservoir and the safety interlock valve in housing 42, and a second or return passageway 112 which extends between the interlock valve housing and the control valve assembly 44. The sectional view of FIG. 7 indicates the relative locations of the reservoir passageway 110,and the return passageway 112 and the direct communication between .passageway 112 and the control valve assembly 44. As indicated in this figure, the control valve assembly 44 includes a sleeve 114 in which is disposed a valve body 116 having an axially extending passageway 117 in which is disposed a valve rod 118.

The sectional view of FIG. 8 indicates details of the control valve structure and its relationship to the handle and passageways 104', 110, and 112. A large unvalved passageway 120, located immediately above the control valve chamber, connects the first reservoir chamber 20 in the handle 12v with the second reservoir chamber 22 in the head portion 14. Passageway 1 10 is in direct communication with passageway 120. The upperend of the control valve chamber is in communication with the return passageway 112, and when pressure is applied through that passageway, the valve rod 118 is forced down to seat O-ring 121 on valve seat 122. At that time O-ring 123 is spaced from seat 124 so that passageway 104 is connected to the atmosphere through radial valve body orifices 125 and an annular exhaust path between the outer periphery of the lower end portion of valve rod 118 and the adjacent inner periphery of the axial opening in sleeve 114.

The trigger l26 and sleeve 114 are secured to the housing 10 by pin 127. The trigger 126 carries a pair of set screws 128 which lock against each other with the upper one adapted to engage rod 118. Upon pivoting movement of the trigger 126, rod 118 is moved upward to seat-Owing 123 and open the valve at seat 122. Air can then flow past seat 122 and through [orifice] orifices 125, and passageway -112- is then in direct communication with the pilot air passageway 104.

The third control element in the pneumatic system is the safety interlock valve housed in chamber 42. This valve, as shown in FIGS. 10-13, is a three-way valve structure substantially identical with the control valve and including a valve body 130having two valve seats 131, 132, end ports 133, 134, and a central port 135. O-rings 13-6 seal the valve body ports fromone another. The valve rod 137 has two O-rings 13-8, 139 which alternately engage seats 13-1, 132, respectively. Air pressure from the reservoir normally biases the valve rod 137 to a position in which return passageway 112 is in communication with the atmosphere'The valve rod end 140 thread edly receives a plunger 142 which is mounted for reciprocating movement in housing bore 143 toward and away from turret housing 144, .the mounting providing an annular exhaust path between the bore 143' and the periphery of the plunger 142 for communicating the passageway 112 to atmosphere, as aforesaid. 'Inward movement of plunger 142, in the order of 0.030 inch, operates the threeway valve to connect passageway 110 to passageway 112 and to cause O-ring 139 to engage seat 132.

The -safety interlock valve is actuated by the head 146 of a nail 24 when the nail is moved into contact with the plunger 142 by the turret-40 which is similar in form to a star wheel and has six radially extending flanges 148 which form elongated, axially extending, cylindrically Walled pockets that receive and guide the heads 146 of the nails. Each turret flange also has two grooves 150 which are disposed in circumferential alignment with corresponding grooves in the other flanges. Each groove has an inclined upper surface 151 for guiding purposes and a lower radially extending surface 152 for cutting purposes. Wires 153 secured to the nails 24 are received in these grooves and secured there by the wall of the turret housing as the turret is rotated.

The turret is mounted on a one-way clutch structure which includesa nut 154 having a series of axially extending grooves 156 about its periphery. Each groove has a slot 159- therein and a generally tangentially extending surface 160. Disposed in .each groove is a clutch pin 162 and a leaf spring 163, one end of which is secured in slot 159 and biases ,pin 162 along surface away from surface 158. The inner bore of the nut has threads that engage cooperating threads 164 on shaft 38.

This clutch structure is retained inside turret 40 by bushings 165 and 166. A spring 168, housed within upper bushing 165 engages shaft cap and biases the shaft 38 downwardly. Azthrust bearing in the form of washers 171 is disposed above bushing 165.

The clutch structure is housed within turret 40 and the nails are fed into the turret from the magazine through track 172. The nails 24 are secured together in series by two wires 153 in a nail assembly configuration of the .ype shown in the Peterson Patent 3,083,369, and these wires are received in turret grooves 150, as indicated tbove.

When shoe 34 engages the workpiece W, it pivots and :brces shaft 38 upward against the biasing force of spring [68. As the nut 154 is restrained against axial movement )y bushings 165, 166, it must rotate. This rotation forces he clutch pins 162. out along the tangential groove suraces 160 and into engagement with the inner surface of he turret bore. When so engaged, further axial movenent of the shaft 38 rotates the turret, and the nails, vhose heads are disposed in the turret pockets between langes 148, are advanced into the drive track and into tlignment with the driver rod 28. When the nail head [46 contacts plunger 142 and moves it into bore 143 about ya", the interlock valve is fully actuated and acts IS a positioning stop. In this position the nail is aligned vith the driver through the coaction of the turret pocket ind the positioning function of the valve.

In operation of the apparatus, after the magazine is oaded, the feeding of nails 24 into drive position is ac- :omplished by rotation of the feed barrel turret 40 in 'esponse to the pressing of contact trip member 34 against he workpiece W. This pushes shaft 38 upwardly tgainst the spring 168 and rotates nut 154 to advance the urret in the counterclockwise direction to the position .hown in FIG. 10 to advance a nail 24 into drive position. In drive position the head 146 of the nail is in contact vith plunger 142 of the safety interlock valve and has )perated that valve to connect passage 110 with passage [12 and supplies air to the control valve assembly 44. Should a nail not be properly moved into position, the nterlock valve will not be actuated and no air pressure vould be applied to the control valve assembly.)

If the control valve 44 is actuated concurrently with he interlock valve, the air pressure in passageway 112 will )e connected through axial passageway 117 and ports [25 to pilot valve passageway 104 to act against the pilot alve piston 48 and move that piston upward to change he valve 50 from contact with seat 52 to open orifices 15 to the reservoir after exhaust port 56 is closed (in the )osition shown in FIG. 9). In this position, air from 'eservoir chamber 22 flows through sleeve orifices 55 into he chamber above the main valve piston 64 and forces it town. The movement opens the main valve 66, and the 'ull reservoir pressure acts against drive piston 26 so hat the piston 26 and driver 28 are moved down rapidly drive the nail 24 into the workpiece W.

As soon as the nail head 146 has been moved off the alunger 142, the plunger is moved by air pressure and the nterlock valve closes passage 110 and connects passage [12 to the atmosphere. This dumps the pilot air through he valve 42 to atmosphere, and the pressure differential lCIOSS piston 48 forces the valve 50 down onto seat 52 so hat the chamber above piston 64 is connected to atmos- )here through exhaust orifice 56.

The main valve 66 is then returned to the sealing posiion shown in FIG. 1 at a rate controlled by the setting )f choke tab 86. At the same time, reservoir pressure is toting against the lower surface of return piston 74, while ts upper pressure surface is vented to atmosphere. When he main valve 66 closes, this pressure differential moves iston 74 (and driver piston 26) up so that the drive pison 26 is returned to its starting position. Stop 75, carried my the cap 58, acts as a cushion and controls the final )ositioning of the main drive piston 26. Additional details )f this type of driver mechanism are shown and described n Smith Patent No. 3,051,135.

When the driver blade 28 is at the bottom of its stroke, t extends through the nosepiece and contact shoe a disance suflicient to push the nosepiece away from the workiiece W. This allows the spring 168 to push the screw .haft 38 downwardly and return the contact trip shoe 34 0 its starting position. As soon as the driver 28 has reurned far enough to disengage itself from the nail feeding turret 40, the nosepiece may be pushed down against the workpiece to feed another nail into drive position so that the drive cycle may be repeated.

Should the control valve 44 be held in its actuated position and the tool be maintained against the work, the tool will automatically recycle and drive a sequence of nails. As indicated above, the speed of this automatic recycle may be varied by control of the main exhaust port 56 with the choke tab 86.

Further, it will be noted that the driver cannot be operated unless the interlock valve is held open by the fastener, and since the fastener is moved into position only when the contact trip shoe 34 is firmly pressed against the workpiece, the tool has the safety feature of not being able to be fired unless the shoe is in proper contact with the workpiece. Should the tool not be fired after the nail is properly positioned in the drive track by the contact trip shoe and the interlock valve opened, release of contact trip shoe 34 Will release turret 40 and the interlock valve will be closed by the pressure in line 110, the nail being moved out of proper position as the interlock valve closes. The shoe has front and side edges beveled (as indicated at 174) so that toe nailing operations are facilitated. Further, if the supply of fasteners is exhausted or if a fastener has not been advanced fully into drive position, the tool cannot be operated. Thus, in addition to the safety features, the apparatus reduces the possibility of jamming and also extends the effective operating life of the tool.

As indicated in FIGS. 1-2, the magazine 30 receives a coil of conventional roundheaded nails 24 which are suitably secured together in series as with wires 153. The magazine includes a central post secured to conical floor member -181 on which the' pointed ends of the nails rest. This unit is biased downwardly toward base member 182 by spring 183 mounted within post 180. Spacers 184 carried by floor 181 cooperate with slots 185 in base 182 enabling the height of floor 181 to be varied so that different length sof nails may be driven by the apparatus.

The magaz[i]ne side wall 186 and cover 187 are secured together as a unit and hinged to a second side wall 188 by angularly disposed hinge 189. A latch 190 surrounds the nosepiece and has a handle 191 and a latch surface 192. A torsion spring, mounted on pivot pin 193, biases the latch to closed position, securing the end of side wall 186 in closed position.

Nails are advanced from the magazine by operation of the turret through a track in which the nail heads 146 are located between entrance guide 194 and nail head support ledge 195. The nail heads are thus fed in proper position by the turret 40 for actuation of the interlock valve nail sensor (plunger 142). In this apparatus the nails are advanced from the magazine by the turret alone. Auxiliary or alternatively advancing mechanisms may be employed as desired, particularly where other forms of nail packages are employed.

While a nail driving embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, features of the invention are not limited to nail driving devices, but are also useful in the driving of other types of fasteners, such as corrugated fasteners or staples. For example, an interlock valve arrangement may be incorporated in a staple driving tool as indicated in diagrammatic form in FIG. 14. As shown in that figure, there is provided a nosepiece 200 in which is formed a drive track 202. A magazine structure is positioned adjacent the nosepiece and may be moved away from and towards the nosepiece, for example, in a sliding movement. A series of staple fasteners 204 are fed, by suitable means such as a spring, serially into the drive track formed in the nosepiece. When a staple is properly aligned in the drive track, interlock valve 206 is actuated to connect reservoir passage 208 to passage 210 which is connected, for example, to the control valve assembly. (Such assembly may be omitted, if desired, in particular applications.) In such position, the driver 212 may be actuated to drive the staple positioned in the drive track into the workpiece. It will be noted that a slot 214 is provided in the driver, and as soon as the driver moves the staple out beyond the valve 206 [208], the valve is released to interrupt the connection between passages 208 and 210 and connect passage 210 to atmosphere via the drive track 202. The next staple cannot be fed into the drive track until the driver 212 is returned to its starting position.

Other [Often] fastener driving arrangements, based on features of the disclosed embodiments, will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the disclosed embodiments or to details thereof and departures may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

[1. Apparatus for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising fastener driving means including a driver element,

structure defining a drive track for slidably receiving a driver element,

means for positioning a fastener in said drive track,

control means for operating said fastener driving means to move said driver element through said drive track, and

interlock means for sensing the proper positioning of a fastener in said drive track, said interlock means enabling actuation of said operating means in response thereto] [2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including means responsive to the positioning of said apparatus adjacent a workpiece for advancing a fastener into alignment with said driver element] [3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said interlock means moves the fastener out of proper position With respect to said driver element when said apparatus is moved away from the workpiece] [4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including a reservoir for pressure fluid, and wherein said control means includes a main valve for controlling the action of pressure fluid in said reservoir against said fas' tener driving means and said interlock means includes a valve operative when a fastener is positioned in alignment with said driver element to ,control the actuation of said main valve.]

[5. Apparatus for driving fasteners into a work iece comprising fastener driving means including .a driver element.

structure defining a drive track for slidably receiving a driver element,

means for positioning a fastener in said drive track, a reservoir for pressure fluid, and control means for operating said fastener driving means to move said driver element through said drive track, said control means including a main valve for controlling the action of pressure fluid in said reservoir against said fastener driving means,

a fluid actuated pilot valve for controlling the actuation of said main valve, interlock means enabling actuation of said fastener driving means in response to the proper positioning of a fastener in said drive .track, and

means for applying pressure fluid to said pilot valve for actuating said main valve to apply pressure fluid from said reservoir to move said driver element in a fastener driving operation] [6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said interlock means includes a valve operative when a fasr tener is positioned in alignment with said driver element to control the flow of fluid to said pilot valve] [7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said control means further includes manually operable means for controlling theapplication of fluid to said pilot valve] 8. Apparatus for driving fasteners into a workpiece 10 comprising fastener driving means including .a reciprocable driver element,

a magazine for storing a supply of fasteners,

structure defining a drive track for receiving a fastener from said magazine and aligning said fastener with said driver element,

control means for operating said fastener driving means to move said driver element through said drive track to drive the fastener disposed in said drive track into a workpiece in a single stroke, and

fluid pressure means responsive 410 the movement of a fastener through said drive track for retracting said driver element from said drive track after completion .of said stroke independently of the position of said control means.

9. Apparatus for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising fastener driving means including a reciprocable driver element, a magazine for storing a supply of fasteners, structure defining a drive track for slidably receiving said driver element, control means for operating said fastener driving means to move said driver element through said drive track, fluid means responsive to the movement of said driver element through said drive track for retracting said driver element from said drive track independently of the position of said [operating] control means, andadjustable means for controlling the speed of retraction of said driver element from said drive track.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim '9 and further including a reservoir for pressure fluid, and wherein said control means includes a main valve for controlling the action of pressure fluid in said reservoir against said fastener driving means,

a fluid actuated pilot valve for controlling the actuation of said main valve, and

means for applying pressure fluid to said pilot valve for actuating said main valve to apply pressure fluid from said reservoir to move said driver element in a fastener driving operation.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said control means further includes interlock valve means operative in response to the positioning of a fastener in alignment with said driver element to apply fluid to said pilot valve, said interlock valve being released as the fastener is driven by said driver element.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said control means further includes manually operable means for controlling the application of fluid to said pilot valve.

[13. Apparatus for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising fastener driving means including a reciprocable driver element,

structure defining a drive track for slidably receiving said driver element,

means responsive. to the positioning of said apparatus adjacent the workpiece for advancing a fastener into alignment with said driver element,

control means for operating said fastener driving means to move said driver element through said drive track, and

interlock means responsive to the proper alignment of a fastener with respect to said drivertelement for enabling actuation of said control means] [14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said fastener advancing means includes a rotatably mounted turret,

said magazine includes a fastener passage having an outlet disposed adjacent said turret such that said turret advances a fastener received from said passage outlet into alignment with said driver element when said turret is rotated, and

means responsive to the positiong of apparatus in contact with the workpiece to rotate said turret.]

[15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said turret has a plurality of elongated, axially extending pockets about its periphery, each said pocket being adapted to receive a fastener therein] [16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said turret rotating means includes a one-way clutch] [17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said workpiece responsive means includes a shoe member having a portion extending forwardly of said drive track] [18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said shoe has an aperture through which the fastener is driven] 19. Fastener driving apparatus comprising a housing defining a reservoir adapted to be supplied with compressed air through a supply orifice,

a cylinder having a passage leading thereto from said reservoir, and

fastener driving means slidably mounted in said cylinder, valve means for closing said passage to block the flow of air between said reservoir and said cylinder,

means supporting said valve means on said housing so that said valve means may be moved between a closed position and an open position,

said valve means including a control surface,

first and second passageways adapted to communicate with said control surface,

means to adjust the efiective cross sectional area of one of said passageways, and

control valve means mounted on said housing for controlling flow of air from said reservoir to said control surface.

20. Fastener driving apparatus comprising a housing defining a reservoir adapted to be supplied with compressed air through a supply orifice,

a cylinder having a passage leading thereto from said reservoir, and

fastener driving means in said cylinder including a reciprocable driver elementIIs],

a magazine for storing a supply of fasteners,

structure defining a drive track for slidably receiving reciprocable driver element,

main valve means for closing said passage to block the flow of air between said reservoir and said cylinder,

means supporting said valve means on said housing so that said valve means may be moved between a closed position and an open position,

said valve means including two opposed pressure surfaces,

an exhaust passageway communicating with one of said pressure surfaces,

means to adjust the effective cross sectional area of said exhaust passageway,

a reservoir passageway communicating with said one pressure surface,

pilot valve means for controlling the flow of air through said exhaust and reservoir passageways,

an interlock valve for controlling flow of air from said'reservoir to said pilot valve means,

fastener advancing means mounted on said housing for advancing fasteners serially into said drive track, the fastener in said drive track adapted to move said interlock valve from a first position to a second position to apply pressure fluid to said pilot valve means to open said reservoir passageway, and

said interlock valve being moved to said first position as the fastener is driven through said drive track to connect said pilot valve means to the atmosphere and open said exhaust passageway.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said means to adjust the effective cross sectional arEa of said exhaust passageway includes a choke member movable across said exhaust passageway, and means to lock said choke member in position relative to said exhaust passageway.

22. Apparatus for driving fasteners comprising:

actuatable power operated fastener driving means including a driver element movable through successive power operated drive strokes in response to successive actuations of said power operated fastener driving means,

means defining a drive track for receiving successive fasteners laterally therein to be driven longitudinally outwardly therefrom by said driver element during successive drive strokes thereof,

means for positively moving successive fasteners lateral- Iy into said drive track to be driven longitudinally therefrom by said driver element during successive drive strokes thereof,

fastener sensing means mounted for movement into an operative position by engagement of each successive fastener therewith in response to the movement of each successive fastener by said fastener moving means laterally into said drive track into a proper position to be driven by said driver element for sensing the presence of a fastener in proper position within said drive track,

means mounted for movement into an operative position under the control of an operator for the purpose of actuating said power operated fastener driving means, and means for enabling actuation of said power operated fastener driving means in response to the movement of said operator controlled means into said operable position when said fastener sensing means is disposed in said operative position by the engagement of a fastener therewith moved into proper position within said drive track by said fastener moving means so that upon actuation of said power operated fastener driving means a fastener is present in proper position within the said drive track to be driven longitudinally therefrom by said driver element and for preventing actuation of said power operated fastener driving means in response to the movement of said operator controlled means into said operative position when said fastener sensing means has not been moved into said operative position by engagement of a fastener therewith so that said driver element will not be moved through a power operated drive stroke when no fastener is present in proper position within said drive track to be driven.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said fastener moving means is adapted to cooperate with the leading portion of a fastener package including a multiplicity of parallel headed fasteners interconnected in series by a pair of parallel wires welded to the shanks of the fasteners and includes a turret feed member having a central axis of rotation disposed parallel with the longitudinal extent of said drive track and a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending fastener receiving pockets of a size throughout the longitudinal extent thereof to receive a portion of the periphery of a fastener head therein,

said turret member being provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced notches in the periphery thereof between each pair of adjacent pockets at positions to receive therein a portion of the wires extending between fasteners disposed in the associated pair of adjacent pockets,

said turret member being mounted for successive incremental movements about the axis of rotation thereof to bring successive peripheral pockets thereof into an operative position in cooperating transverse communicating relationship to said drive track so that a leading fastener received within the pocket in operative position is disposed in alignment with said drive track and supported therein by the portions of the wires welded to the shank of the leading fastener and the next adjacent fastener extending through the associated notches,

each of said notches providing a transverse cutting edge facing in a direction opposed to the direction of movement of a fastener longitudinally outwardly of 13 said drive'track, the cutting edges associated with the notches receiving the portions of the wires extending between the leading fastener and the next adjacent fastener being operable to sever the wires in response to the movement of the leading fastener longitudinally outwardly of said drive track by said fastener driving means.

24. Apparatus as defined in claim: 23 including a magazine structure adapted to receive a trailing portion of the fastener package disposed in conical cylindrical coil formotion; the shankof each fastener of said fastener package having a pointed workpiece entering surface at the end thereof opposite from the head,

said magazine structure including a circular fastener support member having a frusto-conical outer portion adapted to receive in supporting relation the conical cylindrical portion of the fastener package by engagement of the workpiece entering surfaces of the adjacent fasteners disposed within said magazine structure.

25. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 including a magazine structure adapted to receive a fastener package including a multiplicity of parallel fasteners interconnected in series by flexible frangible wire means.

guide means between said magazine stnucture and said guide track for guiding the leading portion of the fastener package extending from said magazine structure to said drive track,

said fastener moving means cooperating with said guide means and being operable'u'p'on the leading portion of the fastener package after each leading fastener has been driven from said drive track by said fastener driving means to move the next successive leading fastener laterally into said drive track, 4 said fastener moving means providing cutting edge means facing in a direction opposed to the direction of movement of a fastener longitudinally outwardly of said drive track and disposed when a leading fastener is in said drive track in a position extending laterally of an intermediate portion of the wire means extending between the leading fastener and the, next adjacent fastener so thatduring the initial portion of the outward longitudinal movement of said leading fastener by said fastener driving means the intermediate portion of the wire means will be moved into cutting relation to said cutting edge means and be severed thereby.

26. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 including a magazine structure adapted to receive a. conical cylindrical fastener package including a multiplicity of nails each having a shank provided with a generally circular head at one end and a pointed workpiece entering surface at the other end and a pair of parallel flexible frangible wires fixed to the shanks of the nails to interconnect the nails in series in parallel relation with respect to eachother,

said magazine structure including a circular nailsupport member having a frusto-conical outer portion adapted to receive in supporting relation the conical cylindrical package ofnails by engagement of the workpiece entering surfaces of the adjacent nails disposed. within said magazine structure,

guide means between said magazine structure and said drive track for guiding the leading portion of the fastener package extending from said magazine structure to said drive track,

said fastener moving means cooperating with said guide means and being operable upon the leading portion of the fastener package after each leading fastener has been driven from said drive track by said fastener driving means to move the next successive leading fastener laterally into said drive track.

27. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said operator controlled means includes a shoe member mounted for movement from a normally inoperative posi- 14 tion into an operative position in response to the movement of said apparatus against a workpiece, and

wherein said fastener moving means includes means operable in response to the movement of said shoe member from said inoperative position to said operative position to move a fastener laterally into said drive track.

28. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said fastener sensing means comprises a member normally biased into an inoperative position extending within said drive track in a position to be engaged by the headed end of a fastener during the lateral movement thereof into said drive track by said fastener moving means and being operable to effect movement of a fastener engaged therewith out of proper position with respect to said driver elenient when said apparatus is moved away from the workpiece. v g

29. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said shoe member includes a portion extending outwardly of said drive track, said shoe member having an aperture through which the fasteners are driven.

30. Apparatus as defined in claim. 22 wherein said means for enabling and preventing actuation of said power operated fastener driving means comprises mean defining a reservoir adapted to be connected with a source of fluid under pressure,

main control valve means for controlling the communication of fluid under pressure within said reservoir against said fastener driving means,

fluid pressure actuated pilot valve means for controlling the operation of said main control valve means,

trigger valve means operable in response to the movemean of said operator controlled means into said operable position,

interlock valve means operable in response to the movement of said fastener sensing means into said operable position and,

means connecting said trigger valve means and said interlock valve means in series for actuating said 40 pilot valve means in re ponse to the operation of both said trigger valve means and said interlock valve means.

31. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said means for enabling and preventing actuation of said power operated fastener driving means includes fluid actuated means responsive to the movement of a fastener through said drive track for effecting movement of said driver element through a return stroke after completion of aid drive stroke independently of the position of said operator controlled means.

32. Apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein said means for enabling and preventing actuation of said power operated fastener driving means further includes adjustable means for controlling the speed of the return stroke of said driver element.

33. Apparatus for driving fasteners comprising:

a body structure defining a drive track arranged to receive a fastener for transverse inward movement therein and for longitudinal outward movement therefrom,

a magazine structure adapted to receive a fastener package including a multiplicity of parallel fasteners interconnected in series by flexible frangible wire means,

driving means carried by said body structure for movement within said drive track between a fastener receiving position and a fastener driven position so that the leading fastener of said, package can be moved transversely into said drive track when said driving means is in said fastener receiving position for movement longitudinally outwardly of said drive track by said driving means during the movement of the latter from said fastener receiving position to said fastener driven position, and

guide and feed means between said magazine structure and said drive track for guiding the leading portion each of said notches providing a transverse cutting of the fastener package extending from said'magazine structure to said drive track and operable upon such leading portion after each leading fastener has been driven from said drive track by said driving means to move the next successive leading fastener transversely into said drive track,

said guide and feed means providing cutting edge means facing in a direction opposed to the direction of movement of a fastener longitudinally outwardly of said drive track and disposed when a leading fastener is in said drive track in a position extending transversely of an intermediate portion of the wire means extending between the leading fastener and the next adjacent fastener so that during the initial portion of the outward longitudinal movement of said leading fastener by said driving means the intermediate portion of the wire means will be moved into cutting relation to said cutting edge means and be severed thereby.

34. Apparatus for driving fasteners comprising:

a body structure defining a drive track arranged to receive a fastener for transverse inward movement therein and for longitudinal outward movement therefrom,

a magazine structure adapted to receive a fastener package including a multiplicity of parallel headed fasteners interconnected in series by a pair of parallel wires welded to the shanks of the fasteners,

driving means carried by said body structure for movement within said drive track between a fastener receiving position and a fastener driven position so that the leading fastener of said package can be moved transversely into said drive track when said driving means is in said fastener receiving po ition for movement longitudinally outwardly of said drive track by said driving means during the movement of the latter from said fastener receiving position to said fastener driven position, and

guide and feed means between said magazine structure and said drive track for guiding the leading portion of the fastener package extending from said magazine tructure to said drive track and operable upon such leading portion after each leading fastener has been driven from said drive track by said driving means to move the next successive leading fastener transversely into said drive track,

said guide and feed means including a turret feed member having a central axis of rotation disposed parallel with the longitudinal extent of said drive track and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending fastener receiving pockets of a size throughout the longitudinal extent thereof receive a portion of the periphery of a fastener head therein,

said turret member being formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced notches in the periphery thereof between each pair of adjacent pockets at positions to receive therein a portion of the wires extending between fasteners disposed in the associated pair of adjacent pockets, said turret member being mounted for uccessive incremental movements about the axis of rotation thereof to bring successive peripheral pockets thereof into an operative position in cooperating transverse communicating relation to said drive track so that a leading fastener received within the pocket in operative position is disposed in alignment within said drive track and supported therein by the portions of l. the wires welded to the shanks of the leading fastener and thenext adjacent fastener extending through the associated notches, I

edge facing in a direction opposed to the direction of.movement of a fastener longitudinally outwardly of said drive track, the cutting edges associated with the notches receiving the portions of the wires extending 16 between the leading fastener and the next adjacent fastener being operable to sever the wires in response to the movement of the leading fastener longitudinally outwardly of said drive track by said driving means.

35. Apparatus for driving fasteners comprising:

a body structure defining a drive track arranged to receive a fastener for transverse inward movement therein and for longitudinal outward movement therefrom, v

a magazine structure adapted to receive a conical cylindrical fastener package including a multiplicity ofnails each having a shank provided with a generally circular head at one end and a pointed workpiece entering surface at the other end and a pair of parallel flexible frangible wires fixed to the shanks of the nails to interconnect the nails in series in parallel relation with respect to each other,

said magazine structure including a circular nail support member having a frusto-conical outer portion adapted to receive in supporting relation the conical cylindrical package of nails by engagements of the workpiece entering surfaces of the adjacent nails disposed within .said magazine structure,

driving means ,carried by said body structure for movement within said drive track between a fastener receiving position and a fastener driven position so that the leading fastener-of said package can be moved transversely into said drive track when said driving means is in said fastener receiving position for movement longitudinally outwardly of said drive track by said driving means during the movement of the latter from said fastener receiving position to said fastener driven position, and

guide and feed means between said magazine structure and said drive track for guiding the leading portion of the fastener package extending from said magazine structure to said drive track and operable upon such leading portion after each leading fastener has been driven from said drive track by said driving means to move the next successive leading fastener transversely into said drive track.

36. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said fluid pressure means is operable after said driver element has been retracted from said drive track to recycle said driver element through another stroke to drive another fastener when said control means is maintained in an operating position. 7

37. A fastener driving apparatus comprising:

a housing including means defininga manually engageable handle portion by which the apparatus can be manually moved by an operator,

means within said housing defining a cylinder,

a piston slidably mounted within said cylinder for movement from a first position through a drive stroke into a second position and for movement from said second position through a return stroke into said first position, I

means carried by said housing defining a drive track,

a fastener driving element slidably mounted within said drive track and operatively connected with said piston for movement through a drive stroke in response to the movement of said piston through its drive stroke and for movement through a return stroke in response to the movement of said piston through its return stroke,

means carried by the housing for retaining a supply of fasteners and for feeding successive fasteners laterally into the drive track into a position to be engaged by the fastener driving element and moved outwardly of the drive track by the fastener driving element during the drive stroke thereof and a pneumatic circuit for effecting repeated cycles of operation when said apparatus is manually moved into operative engagement with and along a workpiece so as to drive a plurality of fasteners into said workpiece in spaced relation in which each cycle of operation includes;

(1) movement of a fastener into said drive track, (2) movement of said piston and said fastener driving element through their drive strokes during which the fastener in said drive track is moved outwardly thereof and into the workpiece by said fastener driving element, and (3) movement of said piston and said fastener driving element through their return strokes, said pneumatic circuit including;

means within said housing including said handle portion defining a reservoir for receiving air under pressure from a source,

means defining a pressure chamber,

a pressure responsive member having pressure responsive surface means communicating with said pressure chamber and mounted for movement between first and second positions in response to the establishment of two different predetermined pressure conditions within said pressure chamber,

main valve means operable (1) in response to the movement of said pressure responsive member into said first position for communicating said reservoir with said cylinder so as to efiect the drive stroke of said piston and (2) in response to the movement of said pressure responsive member into said second position after the completion of said piston drive stroke for blocking the communication of said reservoir with said cylinder and communicating said cylinder to atmosphere to permit the return stroke of said piston,

manually controlled valve means pneumatically connected within said circuit and operable in response to movement from a normally inoperative position into an operative position by digital manual movement of an operator manually engaging said handle portion and holding said apparatus with respect to a workpiece such as to commence the operative engaged movement of the apparatus therewith for establishing a first of said two predetermined pressure conditions within said pressure chamber to thereby efiect movement of said pressure responsive member into said first position and operate said main valve means so as to commence the drive stroke of said piston, and

means embodied within said circuit operable with said manually controlled valve means maintained in said operative position (I) in response to a first condition associated with said operating cycle occurring between the commencement of said drive stroke piston and commencement of said piston return stroke for establishing a second of said two predetermined pressure conditions within said pressure chamber to efiect movement of said pressure responsive member into said second position and operate said main valve means to commence the piston return stroke and (2) in response to a second condition associated with said operating cycle occurring between the commencement of said piston return stroke and the commencement of the next piston drive stroke for establishing said first predetermined pressure condition within said pressure chamber to efiect movement of said pressure responsive member back into said first position and operate said main valve means to commence another piston drive stroke.

38. Apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein one of said conditions associated with. said operating cycle comprises a condition of mechanical movement and said condition responsive means includes a valve movable from one position into another position in response to such mechanical movement and operatively connected with said pressure chamber within said pneumatic circuit for establishing the associated predetermined pressure condition within said pressure chamber.

39. Apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein said condition responsive means includes recycling valve means mounted for movement between two limiting positions and operatively interconnected with said pressure chamber and said manually controlled valve means within said circuit so as to be (1) ineffective to control the pressure conditions within said pressure chamber when said manually controlled valve means is disposed in said operative position and (2) efiective to control the pressure conditions within said pressure chamber when said manually controlled valve means is disposed in said operative position by establishing (1) communication between said pressure chamber and said reservoir in response to the movement of said recycling valve means into one of said two positions and (2 communication between said pressure chamber and the atmosphere in response to the movement of said recycling valve means into the other of said two positions.

40. Apparatus as defined in claim 39 wherein said condition responsive means further includes a fastener sensing member mounted for movement from a first position disposed within said drive track into a second position by engagement of a fastener therewith during the movement of the latter into said drive track by said fastener feeding means, and

means operatively interconnecting said fastener sensing member and said recycling valve means for movement together.

41. Apparatus as defined in claim 39 wherein said pneumatic circuit further includes means defining passages interconnecting said recycling valve means in series with said manually controlled valve means between said reservoir and said pressure chamber.

42. Apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein said piston includes structure providing first pressure respo-nsive surface means for effecting said piston drive stroke when said main valve means is operable to communicate said cylinder to said reservoir and second pressure responsive surface means facing in a direction opposed to said first pressure responsive surface means,

said pneumatic circuit including means for communicating air under pressure with said second pressure responsive surface means for effecting said piston return stroke when said main valve means is operable to communicate said cylinder to the atmosphere.

43. Apparatus as defined in claim 42 wherein said piston structure includes a drive piston portion and a return piston portion of a diameter size less than said drive piston portion and disposed in fixed axially spaced relation with respect thereto, one of said piston portions providing said second pressure responsive surface means,

said means for communicating air under pressure with said second pressure responsive surface means comprising a return cylinder slidably receiving said return piston portion, said return cylinder communicating with an opening leading from said reservoir through which air under pressure from said reservoir is continuously present within said return cylinder in communication with said second pressure responsive surface means.

44. Apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein said pressure responsive member includes second pressure responsive surface means facing in a direction opposed to said first-mentioned pressure responsive surface means, said second pressure responsive surface means having an effective area less than the effective area of said first mentioned pressure responsive surface means and being in continuous communication with said reservoir.

45. Apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein said main valve means includes a main valve member mounted in axial alignment with said cylinder adjacent one end thereof for movement axially between a position closing said one end of said cylinder and a position wherein 19 said one cylinder end is opened into direct communication with said reservoir.

46. Apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein said fastener feeding means comprises a magazine for receiving a supply of fasteners secured together in abutting relation in longitudinally extending stick form and for supporting said fasteners in stick form for spring biased longitudinal movement in a direction toward said drive track so that successive fasteners at one end of the stick form will be moved into said drive track and driven outwardly thereof during successive drive strokes of said fastener driving element.

47. Apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein said fastener feeding means includes a shoe member mounted for movement from a normally inoperative position into an operative position in response to the movement of said apparatus against a workpiece and fastener moving means operable in response to the movement of said shoe member from said inoperative position to said operative position for efiecting movement of a fastener laterally into said drive track.

48. Apparatus as defined in claim 47 wherein said fastener moving means is adapted to cooperate with the leading portion of a fastener package including a multiplicity of parallel headed fasteners connected in series by a pair of parallel wires welded to the shanks of the fasteners and includes a turret feed member having a central axis of rotation disposed parallel with the longitudinal extent of said drive track and a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending fastener receiving pockets of a size throughout the longitudinal extent thereof to receive a portion of the periphcry of a fastener head therein,

said turret member being provided with a pair of Iongitudinally spaced notches in the periphery thereof between each pair of adjacent pockets at positions to receive therein a portion of the wires extending between fasteners disposed in the associated pair of adjacent pockets,

said turret member being mounted for successive incremental movements about the axis of rotation thereof to bring successive peripheral pockets thereof into an operative position in cooperating transverse communicating relationship to said drive track so that a leading fastener received within the pocket in operative position is disposed in alignment with said drive track and supported therein by the portions of the wires welded to the shanks of the leading fastener and the next adjacent fastener extending through the associated notches,

each of said notches providing a transverse cutting edge, facing in a direction opposed to the direction of movement of a fastener longitudinally outwardly of said drive track the cutting edges associated with the notches receiving the portions of the wires extending between the leading fastener and the next adjacent fastener being operable to sever the wires in response to the movement of the leading fastener longitudinally outwardly of said drive track by said fastener driving element.

49. Apparatus as defined in claim 48 wherein said fastener feeding means further includes a magazine structure adapted to receive a trailing portion of the fastener package disposed in conical cylindrical coil formation, the shank of each fastener of said fastener package having a pointed workpiece entering surface at the end thereof opposite from the head,

said magazine structure including a circular fastener support member having a frusto-conical outer portion adapted to receive in supporting relation the conical cylindrical portion of the fastener package by engagement of the workpiece entering surface of the adjacent fasteners disposed within said magazine structure.

50. Apparatus as defined in claim 38 wherein said pneumatic circuit includes means for adjusting therate of flow of air within a portion of said circuit efiective to control therate of the cycle of operation of said apparatus.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are of record in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 958,002 5/1910 Phelan 227X 2,979,725 4/1961 Wandel et a1. 227-13OX 3,112,489 12/1963 Beckman et 211.

3,278,102 10/1966 Sicgmann.

618,695 1/1899 Lee 227117X 1,030,220 6/ 1912 Young 227-8 3,023,413 3/1962 Fischer et a] 227-5 3,106,136 10/1963 Langas et a1 227130X 3,191,841 6/1965 Schafroth 227-130 3,198,412 8/1965 Roosa 227-8 GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

